Machine for cutting and contouring the ends of pipes



y 4, 1951 1. A. WOERNER 2,561,603

MACHINE FOR CUTTING AND CONTOURING THE ENDS 0F PIPES Filed 001;. 6, 19475 Sheets-Sheet .1

llllllll lllllllli INVENTORQ [fill/N14 Was/mm T' uiiy 24 3951 l. A.WUERNEW 9 -9 MACHINE FOR CUTTING AND CONTOURING THE ENDS OF PIPES FiledOct. 6, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 EW f 89 L l L r 4 W w Mia? INVEN TOR, 1Kw/v WUERNER" Arw Ey y 24,1951 l. A. WOERNER 2,561,603

MACHINE FOR CUTTING AND,CONTOURING THE ENDS OF PIPES Fi led Oct. 6, 1947s Sheets-Sheet 5 I. II 3 5' 34 I un; n I lllk l 32 2 3, 27,,

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[RV/N A WOERNEI? BY mm A TTOIE'NE Y Patented July 24, 1951 MACHINE FORCUTTING ANnooNToUnINc THE ENDS F PIPES Irvin A. Woerner, FortCollinslColo. Application c nter 6, 1947, Serial o.177a247' 1 Claim.(01. 7266-23) This invention relates to improvements in machines forcutting pipes and for contouring the ends thereof.

Since the advent of welding, the use of pipes for many differentstructures has increased greatly and such use requires the ends of thepipes to be contoured in order to make the proper welded connections.

I Machines of different constructions have already been invented for usein contouring the ends of pipes, such machines employ a cutting torch ofthe usual acetylene type.

This invention relates to improvements in machines for contouring pipesand has for its principalobject to, produce a machine of a simple andsubstantial construction that can be manufacturedv at a comparativelylow cost and which can be easily operated and controlled.

Another object of the invention is to produce a machine of this typewhich can be operated by means of an electric motor or by hand.

A further object of the invention is to produce a machine in which themovement of the torch can be stopped at any time and in which thetemplate can be easily removed and replaced.

Another object of the invention is to produce a machine of the typeindicated which shall be of such construction that the cutting torch ismoved from the chuck in which the pipe is se-, cured as distinguishedfrom machines in which the movement of the template controls the rota-.tion of the chuck and pipe Another object of the invention is to producea machine of the type indicated that shall be of such construction thatthe template. can be moved at different speed ratios to accommodatetemplates of designs requiring more than ordinary length.

The above and other objects that may become apparent as this descriptionproceeds are attained by means of a construction and an arrangement ofparts that will now be described in detail and for this purposereference will be had to the accompanying drawing in which the inventionhas been illustrated in its preferred form, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the machine showing the parts inoperative position;

Figure 2 is a transverse vertical section taken on line 2-2, Figure 3;

Figure 3 is a vertical 3-3, Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a section taken on line 4-4, Figure 3; v

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the counter shaft section taken on lineshowin theclutchmechanism employed in con-' nection with the movement ofthe template;

Figure 6 is a section taken on line 6-6, Figure 3;

Figure 7 is a top plan View showing one form of template;

Figure 8 is a section taken on line 8-8, Figure 1;

Figure 9 is a section taken on line 9l,

Figure 5; and

Figure 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of one corner of the machineshowing the weight and guide therefor.

Referring now to the drawing, reference numeral [5 designates the endsof the machine housing and reference numeral l6 designates adoor'closing a portion of the front of the machine, while referencenumeral i1 designates the upper part .of the front side. The rear wallof the machine has been designated by reference numeral 18. The top ofthe machine has been designated by reference numeral l 9. i

. The ends 15 are provided with openings for the reception of the endsof the tubular chuck 20. This chuck is provided, in its outer surface,with grooves 2| which serve as tracks for the supportin rollers 22;since these rollers run in tracks 2| as shown, they serve the purpose ofpreventing longitudinal movement in addition to forming antifrictionbearings. Secured to the outer ends .of the chuck are plates 23, one ofwhich is shown inFigure 8 to which reference will hereinafter be made.Tubular chuck or drum 2,!) is provided with two ring gears the larger ofwhich has been designated by reference nu meral 24 and the smaller byreference numeral 25.

Supported by the ends [5 are two bearings 26 for the shafts 21 and 2'1.Shaft 21 is also mounted for rotation in a bearing 28 that rests on theelevated platform 29 and is provided with a .spur pinion 30 that mesheswith the ring gear 24. Shaft 21; is made in two sections and isconnected by a suitable shaft coupling 3i. The sectionfof shaft 2'!nearest the center has a cuplike hearing 32, in which thecorrespondingend of shaft is mounted for rotation. A clutch disk 33 is splined to theinner surface of member 32 and is provided with a number of holes 34. Aclutch disk 35 is splined to shaft 21 in such a manner that it may movelongitudinally, but cannot rotate thereon. Clutch disk 35 has a hubprovided with a groove 36 for the reception of the ends of fingers 3'!of the shiftin fork that is pivoted at 38. A spring 39 exerts a forcetendingto :move clutch disk 35 into engagement with.

permitted to move into engagementas may be de sired.- An electric motorv45 is. secured to the bottom plate and connected with shaft21fby1 meansof a worm gear which has not been shown in detail, but which has beenindicated by ref-.- erence numeral 46. H variable speed motor controlledin the usual manner.

It is now apparent that when shafts are interconnectedby means of theclutchrnech: anism that has just been described,- and the shaft rotatedby means of the motor, such rotation will be transmitted to thecylindrical drum or chuck by means of pinion 3D and ring gear.24. Thecylinder can be rotated manually, if desired, and for this purpose shaft21 has been provided with a bevel gear 41 that is in mesh with a bevelpinion 48 secured to the inner end of shaft The motor is. preferably a 1low and support a slide 89.

49. This shaft is mounted in bearings 50 and can be rotated by means ofa crank 51..

Positioned above the cylindrical drum or chuck 20 is a counter shaft 52.The ends of; thisis'haft are mounted for rotation in bearings 53 Securedto the end plates I5. the shaft and prevent longitudinal movement. Ringgear 25 meshes with spur pinion 55 on shaft 52,.as shown in thedrawings. It is now evident that. whenever cylinder 20 rotates, ,countershaft Collars 54am secured to 52 will also rotate; It is obvious that asingle ring gear might perform the functions of both ring gears 24 and25,, if such construction were desired; however, for reasons of design,the two ring gears have been deemed more desirable than a single gear.

member 51. This member hasa frusto -conical end surface 58 and isprovided with a' grooves-59 for the ends of the shifting fork fingers 60that are. shown most. clearly in Figure 2-. 'Ihe shifting fork issecured to the shaft 61 by means of a set screw 62 or by any othersuitable'means. The inner end of shaft. BI is journaled' in abearing63and the outer end is provided with a'crank 64'. A collar 65 holds theshaft from longitudinal movement. By rotating shaft BI, the cammem ber51 can be moved longitudinally'on shaft 52;

Referring now more particularly to Figures 5 and 9, it. will be observedthat, a sleeve 66 is secured to shaft 52 and held from rotation'there on.by means of a pin 91. Extendin'gin opposite directions from sleeve 86are spaced ends or lugs 68 between which are pivoted camfar'ms 69: Thefree ends of arms 69 are provided with adjust; able bolts 10 whose innerends engage the frustoconical surface 58 and when the latter'is'movedtoward the right, when viewed as in Figure 5, the clutch arms will bespread apart. A 'clutch'plate 1! is mounted onshaft 52 for aslight'longitudinal movement, but held from rotary movement thereon bysplines in a manner well lmown. A double spur gear comprising the. two.gears 12 and 13 that are secured to hub 14 are mounted on shaft 52v forfree rotation, but are held against outwardlongitudinalmovement by meansoficol lar 54. A felt ring 1L5 separates the clutch A collar is secured1to shaft'52 4 and serves as an abutment to thesliding cam 4 1| from theclutch disk 16 of gear 12. When cam member 51 is in the position shownin Figures 3 and 5, gears 12 and 13 may freely rotate on shaft 52, butby moving the cam sleeve 51 towards the right, the clutch fingers spreadapart and move the cam plate 11 into engagement with clutch disk 16,thereby clamping the gears in such a way that they rotate with shaft 52.

The topplate I9 is provided with a transversely extending opening 11 fora purpose which will directly appear. A rack 13 is secured to the underside of, a plate 19 and held in a position to mesh v with ,the gear 12on shaft 52. A template 88 is secured to plate 19 by means of bolts BIand spacers 82. When gear 12 rotates, the rack will, of course, movetransversely as is evident from Figure 6. The template which has beenshown in. Figure '1 has a cam edge designed to form certain contour onthe end of pipe 83 and controls the position of a cutting torch 84 bymeansvvhich will now bedescribed.

Extending upwardly from end plate I5 at the right. when viewed as inFigure 3,, are twov brackets 85 and 36. A roller 81 is mounted forrotation between the upper ends of these brackets and two rollers 88arepositioned a short distance be.-

The end plates [5. at the other end are provided with two brackets 90-,best seen in Figure 2. The upper ends of these overlap the slide plate89 and positioned underneath the side plate is a roller 9I.. Plate 89 isprovided with a downwardl extending. cam follower 92 that contacts thecam edge of template 80. A weight 93 is slidably mounted in a verticalhousing 94 and has attached thereto a wire or flexible metal cable 95that passes over a pulley 96 and goes from thence to and around agrooved pulley 91 and has itsend connected with the slide plate 89 atpoint 98. The weight tends to move the slide plate towards. the rightwhen viewed as inFigure 3 and holds the cam follower incontact with thecam edge of the template and therefore whenever the template is moved,plate 89 willhave a longitudinal movement controlled by theshape of thecam edge. ,j S ecured to the upper surface of plate 89 is a support 99having an opening through Whichthe rack bar Illllcan reciprocate.Apinion. is positioned in the. support 99 and can be rotated by meansofthe knurled wheel WI. The rack bar I00 can thus be adjustedlongitudinally within certain limits. Secured to the outer end of therackbar is a torch 84 as shown in Figure 1. This torch is positioneddirectly above the pipe 83 and oxygen and acetylene gas are conducted tothe torch by means of flexible tubes I52 and I93.

Plates 23 that are secured to the ends ofth'e cylindrical chuck member29 have guides fI04 in'which is slidably mounted a plate Hi5 that hasarectangular' notch I06. This plate is also provided with elongatedopenings I61 through'which clamping bolts I08 extend. A pipe 83 ispositionedinthe notch in plate I05 as shown and clamped by means" of ascrew I89. By means of this chuck arrangement, pipes of any diameter.can be centered and clamped in position. so as to rotate with the chuck.

Let us now assume that the parts that have been described above arerelated in an operative manner as shown in the drawing and that therotatableparts are turned in such a direction as to move the rack 18with its template 810; from left to right, when viewed as in Figure 6.During this motion the pipe will turn about its axisaand at the-same:time'the torch. will be 'm'oved forwardly and rearwardly in accordancewith the cam surface on the template. By first providing templates thatwill produce the proper end contour of the pipe, any number of pipes canbe contoured in exactly the same manner with the assurance that all ofthe contours will be exactly correct.

If, for any reason, it is desired to cut a longitudinal slot in thepipe, this can be accomplished by holding the pipe stationary and movingthe torch manually.

Particular attention is called to the fact that the template is moved bythe rotation of the chuck and is therefore moved by power derived fromthe motor and that the rack and template may be moved independently byreleasing the clutch mechanism shown in Figure 5 and applying a force tohandle Ill. The rack with its attached plate 19 and the template can beentirely removed by releasing the clutch mechanism shown in Figure 5.This makes it possible to replace templates with others and to easilyreinsert the rack and template. If a very long template is moved, theparts are arranged as shown in Figure 3, but if a shorter template issuflicient a different rack is provided that cooperates with gear 13instead of with gear 12.

Having described the invention what is claimed as new is:

A machine for cutting and contouring the ends of pipes, comprising asupporting frame having spaced ends, a tubular chuck mounted in bearingsin the ends, means at the end of the chuck for centering a pipe therein,a ring gear surrounding the chuck, a drive shaft mounted for rotation onthe frame, said shaft having a pinion in operative engagement with thering gear, said drive shaft comprising two aligned sections, a shaftcoupling interconnecting the two shaft sections, manually controlledmeans for rendering the shaft coupling inoperative, manually operablemeans for turning that portion of the drive shaft that has the pinion,whereby the chuck may be manually rotated, a countershaft mounted on theframe for rotation about an axis positioned above the center of thecylindrical member, means for rotating the countershaft at a speeddirectly proportional to the angular speed of the tubular member, a spurgear mounted on the countershaft for free rotation, a clutch mechanismcarried by the countershaft for frictionally securing the spur gear tothe shaft for conjoint rotation, a rack in operative engagement with thespur gear for movement transversely of the countershaft axis, a templatecarried by the rack, a plate connected with the ends of the frame forsliding movement in a line parallel with the axis of the chuck, a camfollower extending downwardly from the plate in position to engage thecam edge of the template, means comprising a weight for urging the camfollower into engagement with the template, whereby the plate will becontrolled in its axial movements by the template, and a cutting torchcarried by the plate and positioned above the pipe in a diametricalplane.

IRVIN A. WOERNER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,879,346 Lawrence Sept. 27, 19322,295,182 Norton Sept. 8, 1942 2,295,229 McGuire Sept. 8, 1942 2,379,630Fall July 3, 1945 2,383,607 Lovers et a1 Aug. 28, 1945 2,460,412Douglass Feb. 1, 1949

